Over the course of this final month leading up to the start of the 2022 South Alabama football season, we will preview all the position groups on the Jaguar roster.
The nine-part series examines each position group ahead of the season opener versus Nicholls State on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium. This installment looks at South Alabama's offensive line.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting the South Alabama ticket office at (251) 461-1USA(872).
RETURNING STARTERS (4)
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Anterrious Gray (Sr., 6-3, 317) – A second-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection by Pro Football Network, who appeared in each of the Jags' last 11 contests including starting the final 10, and was on the field for 708 snaps
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Antawn Lewis (Sr., 6-3, 330) – Started all 11 games he played in last season
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James Jackson (Sr., 6-3, 319) – Started eight of the nine games he played in during his first season with the program after transferring from Mississippi State
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Trey Simpson (Jr., 6-2, 295) – Started all 10 games he played
OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (9)
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Reid Gavin (R-Fr., 6-4, 317) – Redshirted the 2021 season
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John Gill (R-So., 6-4, 308) – Entering his third season with the Jaguar program
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Kent Foster (Sr., 6-3, 291) – Played in 11 contests, starting on five occasions last fall, and was on the field for 452 snaps
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Josh McCulloch (Jr., 6-3, 312) – Played in four games, starting one against Alcorn State
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Tyler Jernigan (Jr., 6-2, 306) – Saw action in each of South's final seven games, and was on the field for 40 total snaps
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Kole Payne (R-Fr., 5-10, 267) – Redshirted the 2021 season after earning second-team all-state as a senior
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Reggie Smith (Jr., 6-1, 295) – Saw action against Appalachian State, Tennessee, and No. 15 Coastal Carolina during the 2021 season
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Adrein Strickland (R-Fr., 6-6, 323) – Received three stars from both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com coming out of Mosley High and redshirted the 2021 season
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Sam Williams (R-Fr., 6-0, 289) – Redshirted the 2021 season
NEWCOMERS (8)
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Malachi Carney (Fr., 6-4, 290) – Considered a three-star recruit as well as among the top 55 prospects in Alabama by 247Sports.com
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Daniel Foster-Allen (R-Fr., 6-3, 298) – Transfer from Auburn who is moving over to the offensive side of the ball
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Kenton Jerido (Fr., 6-3, 332) – A three-star prospect according to both 247Sports.com and ESPN.com, and considered among the top 55 recruits in Alabama by ESPN.com
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Logan Lanicek (Fr., 6-4, 340) – Earned 7A second-team all-state honors as a senior at Fairhope from the Alabama Sports Writers Association
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Dontae Lucas (Jr., 6-4, 332) – Played last three seasons at Florida State
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PJ Mixon (R-Sr., 6-4, 292) – Spent one season at Jacksonville State and two seasons at Western Kentucky
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Damon Parr (Fr., 6-6, 315) – Earned 3A second-team all-state honors from ASWA at defensive line as a junior
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James Robinson (R-So., 6-4, 345) – Transfer from Tennessee where he was rated as a three-star prospect by 247 composite rankings coming out of high school
2021 LETTERWINNERS/ROSTER MEMBERS LOST (8)
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Ja'Chai Baker
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Jack Green
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Wyatt Green
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Hadon Merchant
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Braden Moody
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Jack Myers
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Max Smith
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Justin Stevens
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- The offensive line unit helped the Jaguars convert 33 percent of its third-down conversions and 64 percent of its fourth-down conversions in 2021
- The group also helped South average 382.4 yards per game of total offense, including 110.9 yards per game rushing
- The offensive line saw South average a school-record 256 passing yards per game while posting its best total offense average since 2016
- Lucas was named Second-Team Freshman All-America by The Athletic in 2019
- He was also the first Seminole true freshman to start a season opener on the offensive line since 2008, and one of 10 FBS true freshmen offensive linemen to start the season opener in 2019
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama football, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaFB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaFB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaFB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
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